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The location of a key substation for a £1billion solar farm planned for Norfolk is still undecided with critics saying the uncertainty undermines the scheme.
Electricity from the East Pye solar farm would be exported through a new National Grid substation near Great Moulton.
But the firm has yet to decide where the facility will go, even though the developer of the wider scheme has already earmarked a site.
Critics say the uncertainty undermines the entire East Pye project because it makes it difficult to fully assess the overall proposals, as so much depends on the location.
A say no to East Pye sign in Great Moulton (Image: Denise Bradley)
Dr Annetta Berry, co-chairwoman of the Block East Pye Solar campaign group, said: “Uncertainty over the substation’s location and size is causing significant problems for the East Pye examination.
“A materially larger National Grid substation, or one in a completely different location, will have consequences for the design and environmental impacts of the project itself.
“This is one of the many outstanding issues impacting this application.”
She said the scheme had been submitted too soon and should be rejected.
A map of the 2,700 acre East Pye scheme (Image: East Pye)
A spokesman for National Grid said the substation project is still at an “early stage” and that officials are still assessing locations where it could be built.
“While the developer’s application seeks consent for a National Grid substation on land within the application area, we have not determined the location of our substation,” the spokesman added.
“Any site identified for the substation would be subject to the appropriate assessments, community engagement and consenting processes before any decisions are taken.”
A new National Grid substation is planned for the project, which could cover 2,700 acres of South Norfolk countryside, because the Norwich Main substation near Dunston lacks capacity.
Alyson Read, Carol Bailey, Andrea Snowden and Sandra Mullett (Image: Newsquest)
East Pye expects National Grid to approve the proposed location.
A spokeswoman for the developer said: “As with other stakeholders, East Pye Solar is continuing to engage with National Grid Electricity Transmission throughout the Examination process.
“East Pye Solar’s expectation is that National Grid Electricity Transmission will determine that the proposed location for the National Grid Substation is suitable.”
The developer says a separate grid-connection application could be needed if National Grid chooses another substation site.
Two other substations are planned near Great Moulton on land labelled ‘Site One’ in the planning application.
Sandra Mullett, a block East Pye campaigner (Image: Denise Bradley)
The scheme could also include up to 1,000 11ft-tall battery storage containers and arrays of solar panels.
Site One could be four times the size of the village itself if the East Pye proposals are backed by Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary.
The project has attracted huge opposition in affected villages, with locals concerned about the impact on the countryside and loss of vital farmland.
Andrea Snowden, who has lived in Great Moulton for 40 years, said: “Houses are not selling in the village and no one wants to live here, meaning we have no option to move out.”
“The south part of the village will be destroyed. No one is going to want to come here.”
Sandra Mullett, another campaigner, believes the village will become one of the nosiest in the county because of the sounds emitted by the substation and associated batteries.
She said: “I consider that East Pye has not presented the true impact of the intrusion of placing this infrastructure within a quiet rural landscape.”
Because of its size, the government will have the final say on the East Pye project.
The Planning Inspectorate is examining the solar farm plans before recommending whether the energy secretary should approve them.
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